Coronavirus: Ofsted suspends routine inspections and teaching union calls for school closures

The move follows updated guidance from the prime minister yesterday during his press conference on the need for people to social distance themselves by working from home where possible and limiting contact with others.

An Ofsted spokesperson said, ‘Following the prime minister’s announcement, we’re putting a hold on this week’s routine inspections of schools, social care, early years and further education providers. We are in discussions with the DfE about the longer-term picture.’

Ofsted chief inspector, Amanda Spielman, added, 'We will monitor what’s happening across education and social care and we will reserve the right to inspect where we believe the safety of children could be at risk, or we have other serious concerns.

'We will also continue to register and regulate social care providers, childminders and nurseries, so that these vital services can continue to support children and their families.'

On Friday, the Early Years Alliance was among organisations that had called on Ofsted to temporarily suspend routine early years inspections.

Commenting, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Alliance, said, ‘We welcome Ofsted's decision to pause all routine inspections in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

‘Providers are having to adapt to extraordinary circumstances and now is clearly not to best time to judge them on the quality of their provision.

‘What's more, given the latest government guidance, asking unnecessary external visitors to enter settings is not appropriate. 

‘We trust that Ofsted will keep the sector updated on any further changes going forward.’

Will schools close?

The National Education Union (NEU) is calling for school closures ‘at least for some time and at least in some areas’.

The NEU has written again to the prime minister further to a letter they sent on Saturday, to which they say they have not received a reply.

The letter, copied to the education secretary Gavin Williamson, pointed to an apparent contradiction between bans on large gatherings and a refusal to close schools.

They say that they are advising some school closures because of the Government’s ‘failure to release modelling comparing different scenarios of school closures’ on the effects on vulnerable school and college teachers, other staff and parents.

Meanwhile, a leading scientist behind the modelling of the spread of the coronavirus has said that shutting schools would reduce the transmission of the disease.

Professor Neil Ferguson, of Imperial College London and director of the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme on Tuesday, ‘From a purely epidemiological perspective we think, with a lot of uncertainty, that closing schools and universities would further reduce transmission.’

Following the Government’s announcement yesterday that vulnerable people are to confine themselves for 12 weeks from this weekend, Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, joint general secretaries of the NEU said, ‘We assume that on this basis teachers and other school and college staff who have these conditions or who are caring for people with those conditions, or who are over 70 should self-isolate' and that they ‘intend to advise all our members [in vulnerable categories] or caring for people in them to stop attending schools and colleges from next Monday at the latest’ and that some would do so earlier.

‘Given your failure to release modelling comparing different scenarios of school closures, we are now forced to call on you to close schools, at least for some time and at least in some areas.

'We also assume that the children of parents with those conditions should also avoid school or college.

This will make the running of schools all the more complicated.’

The letter goes on to say that teachers who aren’t in the categories of heightened risk would be willing to volunteer to play a role in helping our society get through this crisis.

'We suggest during a period of full school closure that teachers and school leaders could work on plans for more limited opening to: 

• ensure that we can look after the children of parents who must do the work our society needs - including NHS staff, food and distribution workers, police, prison and fire brigade staff and those who are working to produce medical equipment, including hopefully industries being re purposed to produce ventilators; 
• ensure that children on free school meals or otherwise in food poverty can eat nutritious meals;
• support other children in need.'

The union said that it could not be a full opening and it would mean substantial changes from the way schools are normally run but that schools could be important community hubs. 

SATs should be abandoned and the Government should produce proposals on the inevitable widespread disruption to GCSE and A -level exams.

‘Supply teachers would also be willing to help in such ways and in any event need your support during school closure or self-isolation.

‘Given the number of staff and pupils that will now be off school, teachers and leaders will simply have to exercise their professional discretion about whether schools and colleges open and what work is undertaken - and they should do so with your approval.’

The Department for Education said that current medical and scientific advice is for schools and other educational establishments to stay open.

If this changes, and the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Scientific Adviser say closing schools, colleges, and early years settings is in the best interests of children and teachers, the DfE would take that step.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said, 'I recognise that teachers are doing everything they can to support the children in their care and help make sure that key workers can continue going to work. Teachers are on the frontline of our national effort.

'We are following the advice of our medical and scientific community every step of the way. The Chief Medical Officer has said the impact of closing schools on children’s education will be substantial, but the benefit to public health may not be.'

Commenting on Ofsted's decision to put routine inspections on hold, he added, 'Given the pressures on our school leaders and their staff, it is only right that Ofsted temporarily suspends its routine inspection timetable. This will help schools to focus on their core functions at a difficult time.'